Pope Leo XIV Revives the Tradition of Summer Retreats at Castel Gandolfo

For four centuries, as Rome sweltered under the summer sun, most popes sought refuge in the cooler surroundings of the papal palace perched on the hill of Castel Gandolfo, located 29 kilometers southwest of Rome. Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI would spend several months each year there, combining rest with official duties.

Then came Pope Francis.

In 2013, the year he was elected, he visited Castel Gandolfo three times—twice to celebrate Mass and once to see his predecessor Benedict, who cherished the town and briefly retired there after stepping down from the papacy.

However, Pope Francis never returned to the summer residence thereafter.

“We felt abandoned,” expressed Maurizio Carosi, one of many locals who admitted feeling disheartened by the pontiff’s decision.

Therefore, last month’s announcement that Pope Leo XIV will spend two weeks in Castel Gandolfo this July “for a period of rest” was met with excitement, relief, and a flurry of last-minute renovations to papal properties. His arrival is expected on Sunday.

“The Vatican is woven into the DNA of our town; it is like a second Vatican,” said Mayor Alberto De Angelis, referencing the pope and the dignitaries expected to visit. “You cannot imagine Saint Peter without the pope, nor Castel Gandolfo without him,” he added, alluding to the Basilica of Saint Peter in Rome.

Other residents of the community shared a similar enthusiasm for the papal return.